The Merchant of Venice Character Web

Comments (0)

Transcript of The Merchant of Venice Character Web

The Merchant of VeniceCharacter WebMain CharactersAntonioRich Venetian merchantPortiaPlay's heroineShylockJewish MoneylenderFather to Jessica (whom he is betrayed by)Enemy to AntonioPlay's antagonistViewed as materialisticDespised for his religion, culture and occupation(and for the practice of charging interest)Angered by his mistreatment by the ChristiansDesire for vengence against Christians, especially AntonioSeeks revenge by demanding a pound of Antonio’s flesh as paymentOther characters view him as inhuman, bestial or demonicBeen trash-talked,spit upon, called a dog, and worseAlienated from almost everyonePainted as a ‘miserly, cruel, and prosaic’ figure"If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?" (Act III, Scene I, Lines 63-72)Shylock’s archenemyBassanio’s best friendLiked and admired by his friendsHopeless depressiveDevolves into a ‘self-pitying lump’Does not name the source of his melancholy (but it seems he is depressed because he is in love, the object of his affection being his close friend Bassanio)Unrequited love for BassanioLovesick•GenerousSelf-sacrificing martyr’ for Bassanio Blatant anti-SemiteCruel towards Jews, particularly Shylock Unapologetic for his aggressive behaviour towards ShylockDesirableWealthy noblewomanHeiress to her dead father’s fortuneLives in BelmontBeautiful Quick-wittedEligible bachelorette Bassanio sees her as the answer to his financial woesBound by a clause in her father’s will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three casketsShe is ‘a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father’SmartCunningCross-dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio’s life Knows that Bassanio’s loyalties lie with Antonio Displays a vicious prejudice towards non-Christians and foreignersantidote to shylock’s malice’Gratiano NerissaPortia's lady-in-witing and confidanteJessicaShylock's daughterA gentlemen of VeniceA kinsmanBest friend and long-time debtor of AntonioIneffectual businessmanBassanioRomantic lead of the playGold digger Courts Portia in an attempt to pay off his debts, as well as for love Borrows 3000 ducats from Shylock, with Antonio as his guarantorWorthy suitor, correctly choosing the casket that contains Portia’s portraitAvoids earning his own way At best clueless, at worst consciously manipulative and selfishExploits Antonio’s generosityUnloyal to Portia, passing on money and gifts that she gives him Friend of Bassanio, who accompanies him to BelmontCoarseGarrulousNotoriously vulgarWildRudeBoldShylock’s most vocal and insulting critic at his trialFalls in love with, and eventually weds, Nerissa, Portia’s lady-in-waiting (parallels Bassanio’s marriage to Portia)Marries Gratiano (but only agreed to marry him if Bassanio won Portia)Disguises herself as a law clerk Practical; tells Portia to ‘suck it up’ when she complains of the unfairness of her life and the casket riddle, and that she should be glad that her father was wise enough to plan for his daughter’s futureHates life in her father’s house, longs for escapeElopes with LorenzoSteals her father’s property Abandons her father and her faithConverts to Christianity Thoughtlessly trades her dead mother’s turquoise ring for a monkeySmart, beautiful and loyal according to LorenzoSalarinoVenetian gentlemanFriend to Antonio, Bassanio and LorenzoEscorts the newlyweds Lorenzo and Jessica to BelmontReturns with Bassanio and Gratiano for Antonio’s trialUsually almost indistinguishable from his companion SolanioSolanioVenetian gentlemanFrequent counterpart to SalarinoLorenzoFriend of Antonio and BassanioIn love with JessicaHelps Jessica escape from her father's houseLauncelot GobboBassanio's servant Comical, ‘clownish’ figure Skilled at making punsFools around Makes smart-aleck commentsBags on all the other characters in the playLeaves Shylock’s service in order to work for BassanioAids Jessica’s escape from ShylockOld GobboLancelot’s fatherServant in VeniceBlindTubalJew in VeniceFriend of ShylockDoctor BellarioA wealthy Paduan lawyerPortia’s cousinNever appears in the play, but supplies Portia's servant with the letters of introduction needed for her to make her court appearance BalthasarPortia's servant, whom she dispatches to get the appropriate materials for Doctor Bellario (Balthazar is also the name Portia takes when she impersonates a lawyer in court)Presides over Antonio's trialPowerful manThe Duke of VeniceRuler of VeniceUpholds the lawLectures Shylock on the value of mercyShylock goes to him after Jessica robs him blind and when he seeks to collect his pound of flesh from AntonioPrince of MoroccoMoorish prince Seeks Portia's hand in marriageDark complexion Chooses the gold casketPrince of ArragonSpanish nobleman ArrogantChooses the silver casket